Curtis Ward | Mindless arguments
I have heard and read some idiotic arguments and responses to the call for accountability for egregious behaviour which enriches political leaders. But the worst, perhaps the most idiotic, is the response to demands for accountability for betrayal of the people’s trust – corruption by political leaders. Those making demands for accountability are being called “bad mind”. That is as idiotic as it is a betrayal of the rights of the Jamaican people. And it is totally disrespectful of the intelligence of Jamaicans whether living in Jamaica or in the diaspora.
Most concerned citizens recognise the indisputable truth that corruption by political leaders is not a victimless crime. Corrupt politicians who enrich themselves from the public purse directly or indirectly, such as accepting bribes from those seeking an advantage on government contracts or decision-making, rob the people of what is rightfully theirs. When funds are pilfered from the public purse, the essence of corruption by government officials, funds are taken from the services the government is elected to provide. These funds belong to the people. The people’s patronage. The people are the victims of corruption by public officials. They are accountable to the people.
In recent months, we have seen dribbles of information on corruption, or what appears to be corruption attributed to the prime minister in the Integrity Commission (IC) reports. There are unnamed others also. The Jamaican people, the public has not been privy to the reports but have been fed mere dribbles, through inadvertent leaks, or deliberately drip by drip intended to hide the full impact. In the past our quest for the whole truth has been stymied by the government-controlled parliament – with a super majority – and a Speaker who gavels with the dual role as the prime minister’s spouse.
FLOOD OF INFORMATION
In the past few days, what was before now an information drought has been transformed into a flood of information – a tsunami of possible corruption by the country’s leader. The question arises as to whether the rule of law will prevail, and the foundation of Jamaica’s democracy will be preserved. Will there be accountability?
Other questions also surface in this type of scenario in a democracy. The type of information now being revealed in the IC report, particularly in the affidavit of Craig Beresford, the IC’s director of information and complaints, far exceeds that which would normally trigger resignation from public office for any political leader in a democratic system of government. It would have triggered prosecution. If the claim of existence of the rule of law and democracy is reality, then who, or which agencies of society wishing to preserve it will be revealed. We will know by the nature of responses seen over time.
But who will take the lead? Can the Jamaican people depend on the media to have a lead role in this process of preserving democracy? Will the all-powerful and influential private sector choose to support a democratic system which serves the best interest of the people and country, or will they choose a corrupt system they can manipulate and that which enhances their bottom line? Will it be left to civil society, including activists and advocacy groups to carry the burden of mobilising the people to revolt against corruption? The depth of character of our country is being tested.
We know the opposition party, having a meagre parliamentary minority, is devoid of any real power to influence meaningful parliamentary action. We also already know that anything coming from the opposition party is often dismissed as merely political. Now we see that whenever they speak up and speak out about bad behaviour, including by calling for transparency and accountability in government, they are being characterised by some as “bad mind”. But, no matter how you label them and the call for accountability, the demand will grow stronger, and anger will rise in people who struggle to survive.
The issue of inaction, indeed inertia of the responsible prosecuting authority, must also be raised. There was an outcry when the government hastily used its super majority in parliament to amend the constitution to keep the director of public prosecutions (DPP) in office way beyond mandatory retirement age. Was this a part of the plan not to hold the prime minister accountable if he had in fact, as the IC report suggested, engaged in corrupt practices that resulted in unjust enrichment?
DEMAND ANSWERS
Jamaican people should demand answers. The lack of transparency in government has stymied access to information on which an informed public may act. Such restricted access to information diminishes the chances of accountability. In the case of Jamaica and specific to this issue, accountability extends way beyond those who commit egregious acts. It extends to those who aided and abetted cover up and blocking the legal process. It is not “bad mind” to expect our elected officials and our civil servants who swear to uphold the law and to exercise their authorities and carry out their duties without fear or favour to act accordingly.
For these and other reasons the people must reject any pretence at constitutional reform which effectively concentrates power in the hands of one person – the prime minister. Any such result will provide a platform for replacing Jamaica’s democracy with autocracy which means having a leader who is accountable to no one – an autocrat. Everything is linked. As is often said, “You never see smoke without fire.”
The standards of transparency and accountability which we now espouse and demand do not apply exclusively to the incumbent government. They must apply equally to all who in the future successfully accede to public office and are given governing responsibilities – empowered by the people to have charge over the affairs of government, especially in leadership capacities. Another adage, “What is good for the goose is good for the gander. With a general election coming soon the people will have an opportunity to choose the best stewards for the country.
Curtis Ward is former ambassador of Jamaica to the United Nations, with special responsibility for Security Council affairs. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com